LIONEL Messi’s name, the current holder of the prestigious award, was conspicuously missing as France Football, the organisers of the Ballon d’Or awards, unveiled the nominees for this year’s edition.
However, the list included the name of Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman of Atalanta FC. He is the only African player that made the cut.
The list also contains expected names like Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), and Kylian Mbappe (PSG/ Real Madrid).
Vinicius Jr is believed to be the hot favourite to win the prize.
Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi, the current holder and eight-time winner, does not make the cut.
Full list of 2024 Ballon d’Or nominees:
- Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
- Phil Foden (Manchester City)
- Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
- Federico Valverde (Real Madrid)
- Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
- Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao)
- Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen)
- Artem Dovbik (Roma)
- Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)
- Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
- Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig/Barcelona)
- Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
- Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
- Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)
- Rodri (Manchester City)
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
- Declan Rice (Arsenal)
- Vitinha (PSG)
- Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
- Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
- Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
- Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter Milan)
- William Saliba (Arsenal)
- Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
- Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)
- Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)
- Kylian Mbappe (PSG/Real Madrid)
- Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen)
Eighteen-Eleven Media